Consumer

The recyclability calculator makes calculations based on detailed information about the packaging the designers enter into the calculator. It then calculates a score, which is given in % of total recyclability.

Desktop mockup

choice of material, layering, glue, choice of colours, finishing

, the mix of materials, and other variables, a piece of packaging can be easy, complicated, or impossible to recycle or reuse. Designers know this, but it can be challenging for them to make the right choices despite this knowledge. It requires information and calculations that are both highly complex and time-consuming.

Packaging Design

Product Identity and Colour Material Finish (CMF)

 Norge is on a mission to help achieve the target with the recyclability calculator and asked us to ensure it's an easy-to-use digital tool.

Enabling easy calculations

After the beta launch in 2020, new materials, such as metal, corrugated cardboard, cardboard, paper, and glass, have been added to the tool. A user feedback cycle was planned, and in parallel, the application has been continuously developed to improve the accuracy of calculations and recyclability ratings, as well as release new features.

In 2018, Norway alone consumed 210.000 tonnes of plastic packaging, of which only 33% was recycled (Norwegian Government data). According to Forum for Sirkulaer Plastemballasje, Norway needs to increase plastic packaging recycling by about 40 000 tonnes per year to reach the EU goals. 

However, if we see the same increase in the coming years as the previous, we need to recycle 62500 tons more in 2025 compared with 2017.

3 images

We developed the recyclability calculator from Grønt Punkt Norge so that it automatically makes the complex calculations that packaging designers need to assess the recyclability. The designers simply input the information of the materials they are planning on using: material type, weight, measurements, etc. The tool then generates a “recyclability score” given in the percentage of total recyclability. Throughout the process, we have worked with early and continuous 

 to test functionality and user experience.

 Tech Prototyping

An easy-to-use, digital tool

Thanks to user-friendly UX and UI design, the tool is easy to use despite the complexity of the calculations. Throughout the process, EGGS and Grønt Punkt Norge have focused on creating a good user experience. We have made prototypes early in the process to ensure a user-centered solution and an excellent front end. The user-centred design enables designers to make good choices easily.

Recyclability calculator for packaging design